Anthropology 3891/6804, Section 80 The Olmecs & their Neighbors: America’s First Civilization Fall 2016, Thur, 2:30-5:00 pm HAH, Rm. 202 Instructor: Dr. Jeffrey Blomster Office: 303 HAH (2110 G St.), Telephone: 994-4880 Office Hours: Thursday, 11:00 – 1:00, or by appointment. E-mail:
[email protected] General Course Description: The emergence of early complex societies remains a focal point of anthropological research throughout the world. In this class, we shall utilize the Olmec – sometimes referred to as “America’s First Civilization” – to explore in depth the emergence of a specific society and the nature, and impact, of its interregional interaction with contemporaneous societies throughout ancient Mexico. Few ancient societies have attracted the kind of rampant speculation as the Olmec; when Olmec colossal heads are not regularly appearing on popular television shows (the Simpsons), they are cited as proof of ancient African presence in the New World. Stripped of much of the mystification bestowed upon them by the popular press, the Olmec achievement is even more fascinating; they emerge as the creators of a complex society with monumental art, architecture and iconography that still remains poorly understood. Due to their importance in understanding complex society in the New World, the Olmec are situated at the nexus of a series of anthropological debates. In this class, we will focus on issues that have a larger resonance in both archaeology and anthropology, for the following learning outcomes: • models for the origins of complex society • the Olmec level of complexity, settlement pattern, hierarchy and nature of their urban centers • the role of art and ideology in society • Olmec impact on/relations with other regions of Mesoamerica • the creation and destruction of art • acquisition and long-distance exchange • sacred landscapes and iconography • the Olmec legacy in Mesoamerica.